Sheet pulp separator and feeder for baled pulp

ABSTRACT

The separation of a small multiplicity of sheets from a bale of pulp is carried out by shearing the sheets from the body of the bale and feeding the separated sheets from the equipment. The separating equipment in a preferred embodiment includes a pulp sheet separator in the general form of a blade which penetrates the bale in a zone adjacent an upper side of the bale while the bale itself is moving upwardly. The separator is hingedly mounted to protect it against breakage and to permit jogging of the blade. The separator blade is, in operation, capable of being jogged in a plane perpendicular to its own plane while inserted in the bale to aid in breaking pulp sheets from the body of the bale. The action of the separator and bale moving mechanism may be substantially continuous until the last sheets of the bale have been severed and moved from the separator equipment.

Werner Mar. 11, 1975 i 1 SHEET PULP SEPARATOR AND FEEDER FOR BALED PULP [75] Inventor: Edward E. Werner, Oshkosh, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation,

Neenah, Wis.

[22] Filed: Oct. 3, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 403,062

[52] U.S. Cl 214/8.5 ss, 271/128 [51] Int. Cl. B65g 59/02 [58] Field of Search 2l4/8.5 A, 8.5 F, 8.5 SS; 271/42, 128, 129, l30; 221/270, 273

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,174,739 3/1916 Langston 271/128 3701441 10/1972 Gadler 2l4/8.5 ss

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 971,906 10/1964 Great Britain 214/85 ss 1,013,156 6/1954 Germany 2l4/8.5 ss

Primary ExaminerDrayton E. Hoffman Assistant Examiner-Larry Martin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Kimberly-Clark Corporation [57] ABSTRACT The separation of a small multiplicity of sheets from a bale of pulp is carried out by shearing the sheets from the body of the bale and feeding the separated sheets from the equipment. The separating equipment in a preferred embodiment includes a pulp sheet separator in the general form of a blade which penetrates the bale in a zone adjacent an upper side of the bale while the bale itself is moving upwardly. The separator is hingedly mounted to protect it against breakage and to permit jogging of the blade. The separator blade is. in operation, capable of being jogged in a plane perpendicular to its own plane while inserted in the bale to aid in breaking pulp sheets from the body of the bale. The action of the separator and bale moving mechanism may be substantially continuous until the last sheets of the bale have been severed and moved from the separator equipment.

5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEBHARI 11975 v saw u or e Mum WWW PATENTED MRI 1 I975 SHEU s or 6 FIG. 8

PATENTED 3.870.167

SHEET 8 9f 6 IIo VOLT, eo-

RAIsE" AIR MOTOR 4 START AIR MOTOR L 4% 6 1 w c 0 *(f 8 COIL AIR MOTOR I L A 20 LOWER" AIR MOTOR AIR MOTOR F 2"? O 'f I7 AIR SEPARATOR REvERsE" MOTOR FORWARD" a 2711* Z L 4) K /TI fi I REVERSE AIR MOTOR SEPARATOR REvERs REVERSE" (1 I REVERSE FIG. IO

SHEET PULP SEPARA'I QR AND FEEDER FOR BALED PULP This invention relates to a sheet pulp feeder and particularly to equipment'which is capable of separating sheet pulp in minor thicknesses of the pulp, such as a plurality of sheets, from bales of the sheeted pulp.

Pulp in bale form is commonly quite compact so that separation or removal of one or more sheets of pulp from the bale requires the expenditure of considerable energy. The prior history of the bale is a factor influencing the diff culties which may be encountered in sheet removal. Such factors relate to whether or not the bale has been subjected to moisture, very low tempera-' tures and/or high compression or whether or not the pulp itself is solf and easily disrupted when sheet removal is attempted.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a device in which a pulp sheet separator is driven substantially horizontally into the pulp bale to initiate sheet separation.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a device for removing pulp sheets from a bale of pulp in which a blade is employed as the pulp sheet separator and which separator may be jogged in a direction generally perpendicular to itself while within the body of the bale to accomplish'breaking of the pulp from itself.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for separting sheets of pulp from a pulp bale in which the apparatus is so arranged that separation in minor thicknesses of pulp may take place over substantially the complete height of the bale.

A particular object of the invention is to provide apparatus forseparating sheets of pulp from a bale of the sheeted pulp in which the .separatingequipmentis continuously cycled to and from the bale as the bale itself is fed relative to the separating equipment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for separating sheets of pulp from a pulp bale in which the separator equipment feeds the separated sheets from the equipment and is capable of feeding the whole bale from the euipment without manual attention.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel methodof separating a bale of sheeted pulp into smaller thicknesses of thepulp while still in sheetform.

These and other objects of the invention will be more fully understoodiby reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. lis aperspective view schematically illustrating the equipment in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the drawing indicating the manner of feeding the pulp bale to the equipment;

FIG; 2 is a view partially in section illustrating primary componentsof the equipment, a pulp bale being illustrated in phantom outline in position for the separating action;

FIGS. 3, .4 and 5 are views to a smaller scale than that ofFIG. 2 but illustrating various positions of the pulp sheet separator in its penetration of a-pulp bale;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are muchenlarged (relative to FIGS. 3,-4. and'S) views schematically illustrating in more detail the function of. the pulp sheet separator;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are-fragmentary views partially in section illustrating mechanical details of the equipment; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustrating one embodiment of control mechanism for regulating the major functions of the device of FIG. 1.

Initially, a general description of equipment operation will be set out as primary novelty is considered to reside in the broad approach to separation of pulp sheets rather than only in details of equipment arrangement.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the numeral l designates a belt conveyor for pulp bales 2, fragments of the upper and lower strands of the conveyor belt being shown and the direction of travel being indicated by arrows. The pulp bale 2 is moved to the elevator 3 by the conveyor and the positioning of the bale causes actuation of a switch 4.

Switch 4 (FIGS. 1, 8 and 10) is operatively associated with an air motor 5 by conventional means, and the air motor (FIG. 1) is itself in driving relation to elevator 3 through drive mechanism indicated generally at 6. Frame portions 7 to be discussed more particularly hereinafter connect the mechanism 6 with the elevator 3 to cause its elevation from the position shown in FIG. 1 to that shown in FIG. 5, for example, when power is supplied to the mechanism illustrated.

A switch S i s p o sitio ne d F) be contacte d in operation of the drive mechanism 6 as the elevator 3 approaches its uppermost position, the switch being in communication with the air motor by conventional means to cause reversal of the air motor rotation and descent of the elevator in a manner to be more particularly described hereinafter.

The pulp sheet separator is indicated generally at 9 and is adapted to penetrate a pulp bale positioned on the elevator 3. The pulp sheet separator includes a blade portion 9a and is supported for movement transversely across and above the elevator by carrier means 13. The actuating device for attaining this movement is the air cylinder indicated generally at 10. The blade 9a tapers (increases) in thickness and width (increases) rearwardly from a forward leading extremity shown in FIG. l. The fullness in width, nearly that of the bale, aids the pulp separation and the full width aspect is particulary beneficial when the pulp is soft.

In operaion, the pulp sheet separator penetrates the bale of pulp which is itself held between lateral support means 11 and 12 in the form of walls, the latter wall being adjustably positionable as will be noted more particularly hereinafter.

Immediately after penetration of the bale by the pulp sheet separator, the separator is caused to move somewhat abruptly upwardly to jog and break loose the upperplies of the bale away from the lower body portions of the bale. In specific aspect as shown in the drawings, the jogging action is caused by a cammed upward movement at 68 of the carrier means 13 which supports the pulp sheet separator 9, as the carrier means moves under the influence of the air cylinder mechanism 10. The pulp sheet separator, for the purpose of attaining the jogging action and preventing breakage of the separator in its penetration of a bale during upward bale movement is hingedly connected at 14 to the carrier means. The weight of the separator blade tends in the specific embodiment to maintain it in a horizontal position as it enters the bale although some jogging movement may tend to occur with pulp duced by means other than the camming structure indicated at 68, it being only important that the pulp separator 9 be moved sharply upwardly to attain pulp sheet breaking action.

The pulp sheet separator carries on its upper surface a grip which engages sheets cut from the bale and serves to abut the sheets urging them toward the removal conveyor 16. As each portion of pulp is cut and removed during upward movement of the bale, switch 17 at the end of carrier traverse is engaged by a switch contactor 18 in the movement of the piston of the air cylinder-piston combination designated at 10, and the effect of switching is to reverse the actuation of cylinder 10 in known manner. Retraction of the piston from the bale to starting position causes the contactor 18 to engage switch 19, providing for the next penetration movement of the pulp sheet separator 9 into the upwardly moving bale.

An abptrnent 21 i s er g ageable by lever 22 in the upward traverse of the elevator as the elevator approaches its upper limit position. The lever 22 is mounted on pivot shaft 23, which pivot shaft also carries a plurality of finger lifts 24. These lifts project between the roller (FIG. 1) of the table and, as illustrated particularly in FIG. 9, urge the last sheets of a bale upwardly from the table so that theseparator blade 9a may move under these last sheets, effecting their transfer to removal conveyor 16.

Following removal of the last sheets, the limit switch 8 (FIG. 1) is contacted and reversal of the elevator movement is initiated, so that a new bale made be received on the elevator when the elevator has fully descended. The switch position and operation are discussed in connection with the schematic illustration of the control circuit set out in FIG. 10.

Referring now more particulary to the details of construction, the numeral 25 designates a main frame having a plurality of supporting legs 26. A pair of jack screw housings 27 are supported in spaced relation on screw shafts 27a of the frame and by the frame at the rightward end (FIG. 1), a portion of one of the screws only being shown. Collars 28 which are slidable vertically upon guides 39 are secured to shafts 27a. The collars are secured also to the frame portions 7 already mentioned hereinbefore and, accordingly, the movement of the jack screws through the shafts 27a, collars 28 and frame portions 7 provide for raising of the elevator table 3. The numeral 29 indicated the abutment contact of switch 8 carried on the right hand (FIG. 1) collar 28.

A hand wheel 30 secured to a crew shaft 32 through cross head 31 and union 33 (FIG. 2) has a threaded extremity 34 received in a backing plate 35. The backing plate is supported on a plurality of upper and lower horizontally extending slide rods 36 which are themselves mounted at one end in bearings 37 supported by housings 38. The backing plate carries the wall 12, which is relatively narrow (FIG. 1) but of sufficient width to press against and firmly retain between itself and wall 11 a bale 2 on the elevator 3.

The numeral 40 designates generally an essentially three-sided frame in which rollers of the elevator are supported, the rollers extending parallel to the open end of the frame and forming the platform of the eleva-' tor. Rollers 41 are relatively long and border a plurality of shorter rollers 42 intermediate the longer rollers. Rollers 42 are shortened to accommodate the frame, that is, to avoid contact with the adjustable side wall l2 which, as is most clearly shown in FIG. 2, is movable inwardly to engage a bale on the elevator. The threesided frame includes sides 40a, 40b and 40c.

The rear wall 43 bordering the elevator has an appendage 44 of generally triangular shape as shown in FIG. 8 and it carries a web 45 which is secured to housing 46 carrying spring 47 the exterior end of which is mounted in clevis 48. A downwardly depending relatively narrow bar 49 (FIG. 1) is hinged at 50 to the wall 43 and has welded to it at its lower end clevis 48 as well as a contact arm 51 for the switch 4. The contact arm engages (FIG. 8) a roller 52 for actuation of switch 4. The switch 4 is itself mounted on a shelf 53 projecting from the downwardly extending web 54 of the frame. Switch 4 is normally open but is maintained closed against the action of spring 47 by the presence of a bale on elevator 3. The live rollers 41,42 provide that a bale received on the elevator will move against bar 49.

Referring now more particularly to the structure shown in FIG. 9, it is to be noted that the lever 22, when carried upwardly by the elevator 3 to the abutment 21, moves in a slot 55 (FIG. 1 also) in the wall 11. The plate support 56 of the roller frame is shown as supporting the pivot shaft 23. The abutment 21 is a screw threaded rod and its effective length as an abutment for lever 22 may be adjusted to regulate the height at which finger lfits 24 are actuated.

Referring now to the carrier which mounts the pulp sheet separator 9, the numeral 57 (FIG. 1) indicates the carrier framework. The framework includes the pedestal 58 which, in cross section, is similar to that of an I beam. The carrier roller base is indicated at 59 and has a plurality of depending rollers, four in number, and two of which are shown, 60. The rollers, two on each side of the carrier, support the carrier and, accordingly, the pulp sheet separator 9 for movement. The base 59 also has a depending bracket 61 (FIG. 2) depending centrally of the frame 25 and which carries cylinder clevis 62 so that the air cylinder 10 is pivotally supported relative to the trunnion bracket 63, itself carried by support 64. The numeral 65 designates the trunnion pivot and 66 indicates the cylinder piston rod. Actuation of the air cylinder to drive the piston rod 66 rightwardly (FIG. 2) causes the carrier also to move rightwardly (FIG. 2). v

The frame 25 provides a mount 67 in the general form of spaced ways on which the rollers 60 ride. The mount 67 includes cam surfaces 68 providing for the jogging movement of the separator, when the wheels 60 move rightwardly (FIG. 2) up the cam surfaces.

The control circuit of FIG. 10 is shown in the inactive position of the euipment. In specific application, with reference to the control circuit, actuation of the start button with a bale in position on the elevator closing switch 4 places the coil designated air motor" across the power line and closes the normally open air motor relay contacts which are in series with normally closed limit switch 8 and signal light R. This provides continuous power ot the solenoid Raise of the air motor 5, initiating upward movement of the elevator 3. The contacts of the start button open after removal of the actuating means which may be manual.

The normally open contacts of the air motor relay in series connection with the normally closed limit switch 17 are also closed providing for energizing of the Forward solenoid of the carrier 13 and movement of the pulp sheet separator 9 into the bale. Thus, as the elevator initiates its slow rise, the separator penetrates the upper layers of the bale as already noted. In conventional practice, the bale may have a height of 18 inches and a plurality of plies, about 6 inches in thickness may be removed in each pass of the separator.

The normally closed contacts of the air motorrelay are opened by the energizing of the coil designated air motor.Thus, the contacts inseries with switch 20, itself held open in the down position of the elevator by contactor 29, are opened preventing energizing of the solenoid designated lower air moter when the contactor moves upwardly with the elevator and switch 20 is biased to the closed position. Also, the normally closed contacts of the air motor relay connected in series with limit switch 19 are opened preventing energizing of the coil designated Reverse. The limit switch 19 moves to the closed position as the separator moves forward from the switch.

The movement of the carrier 13 through the bale to cut the upper layers from the bale causes contactor 18 (FIG. 2) to engage and open limit switch 17, thus deenergizing the forward coil and stopping movement of the separator 9 into the bale. Simultaneously, however, the normally open contacts are made as at 17' (FIG. 10) to place the reverse relay coil in circuit through now closed limit switch 19. This closes the normally open contacts of the reverse relay in series with switch 19, maintaining the reverse coil energized when switch 17' contact opens ans switch 17 contact closes. The normally open reverse contacts in series with the separator reverse coil are also closed, providing for the separator 13 to move outwardly of the bale as the elevator continues to rise. The normally closed contacts of the reverse relay in series with switch 17 contacts are opened when the reverse relay coil is energized preventing energizing of the forward coil of the separator. The separator withdraws from the bale, opens switch 19, deenergizing the reverse coil, opening the normally open reverse relay contacts, stopping the reverse action of the separator and closing the normally closed contacts of the reverse relay so the forward coil is energized through limit switch 17 permitting the separator 9 to repeat its inward and outward actions. These actions continue until the bale is completely moved from the elevator, opening switch 4 but the air motor continues to run as switch 8 is closed. The switch 19 is maintained in open position by the separator in its fully withdrawn position relative to the elevator and bale and, hence, is shown in open position in FIG. 10.

The limit switch 8 is positioned sufficiently far up on the frame so that it is not opened until the pulp sheets have been transferred from the elevator. When opened, the limit switch 8 opens the line to both the air motor rise solenoid and the coil of the air motor relay, thus opening the normally open contacts in series with limit switch 8 and with limit switch 17 but closing the normally closed contacts in series with limit switch 20 and limit switch 19. The reverse coil of the carrier 13 is thus energized causing the separator to retract; when the limit switch 19 is now opened by the carrier retraction, the forward solenoid is no longer. automatically energized as the air motor contacts in series with it are open. The elevator, however, is now lowered as the lowersolenoid is in circuit through the normally closed contacts and limit switch 20. When limit switch 20 is opened by contact of the contactor 29 with the switch mechanism, the air motor action is terminated.

Contactor 20 maintains limit switch 20 open until the elevator again rises in the processing of another bale. The processing of the next bale is initiated by closing of the start button and with a bale in position to close switch 4.

Summarizing, in operation a pulp bale 2 is fed by the conveyor 1 to the elevator table 3 composed of the plurality of rollers 41, 52. The pulp bale generally commercially available has a height of about 18 inches and a width and length of between about 28 to 33 inches. As the pulp bale engages the switch 4, the start button may be closed so that air motor 5 is actuated to drive the jack screws at 27 and, consequently, the collars 28 mounted on guides 39 upwardly. The collars 28 through the supports 7 are secured to the table 3 and cause it to be raised slowly. As the table rises, it carries with it the pulp bale 2 which continues to bear against bar 49 holding switch 4 closed. Simultaneously with the rise of the table 3 the cylinder 10 also is energized and piston 66 causes the carrier means for the separator to be urged rightwardly in FIG. 2 so that the separator passes through the upper end of the pulp bale. The initial movement of the carrier means for the separator is in a horizontal direction. Shortly after the penetration of the bale, however, the carrier means are cammed upwardly by the action of rollers 60 on the cam surfaces 68 and this causes the separator to be jogged upwardly, tending to break the upper layers of pulp, already penetrated by the separator, from the main body.

As the separator continues its path through the pulp bale, it causes the upper layers to be separated and the removed material to be transferred to the conveyor 16, the removed material being identified as 2a in FIG. 1. The table 3 and the pulp bale on it move continuously upwardly as the separator penetrates the bale. The separator is caused to retract by the engagement of the contactor 18 with limit switch 19, reversing the action of the cylinder 10. Upward movement of the bale continues as the cylinder retracts, and the separator is automatically reversed in its motion when the contactor 18 engages the switch 19 in its rearward movement. Thus, the separator is again caused to move directly and substantially horizontally into the upwardly moving bale penetrating the upper sheets and removing sheet in the manner already described.

When the bale has reached its full upward course, the contactor 29 engaging with the switch 8 causes the air motor 5 action to be reversed and the table to again descend. Also, air cylinder 10, when it reaches the retracted position of the piston 66, is de-energized. The descent of the table causes the contactor 29 to engage the switch 20, setting the circuitry for receipt of a new bale. Thus, it is only necessary to correlate the speed of the air motor with the movement of the separator means for the separator to result in continuous action for the separation of one bale. The feeding of a second bale is, of course, accomplished by the conveyor 1 in any convenient manner. In specific application, removing 1 inch heights from an 18 inch high bale in each pass of the separator, 28 bales per hour may be readily separted. In such application the separator operates substantially continously while a bale is on the elevator, and feed of the bales to the elevator is made promptly as the elevator is in position to receive the bale. The operation, of course, may be on an intermittent basis but such is less economical of time.

Certain apparent modifications may be made to aid speed of operation. For example, the return of the elevator from an upper position to the lower start position may be at an increased speed relative to the raise speed by employing a higherair motor pressure on the return;

As many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for separating sheets of pulp from a pulp bale, an elevator for raising a bale of pulp, lateral support means for a bale of pulp carried on the elevator, a pulp sheet separator, carrier means supporting the pulp sheet separator for movement transversely across and above the elevator in the direction of the said lateral support means and through a bale on the elevator to remove sheets from the bale, a mounting for the said carrier means, other means pivotally supporting the pulp sheet separator with respect to said carrier means so that said pulp sheet separator may be jogged in a direction transverse to the plane of the pulp sheet separator to break pulp sheets loose from a pulp bale into which the separator has penetrated, and fourth means for jogging the pulp sheet separator when the pulp sheet separator is over the elevator, said fourth means being upwardly inclined cam means on the mounting positioned to be traversed by the carrier means in said movement of the carrier means.

2. In apparatus for separating sheets of pulp from a pulp bale, an elevator for raising a bale of pulp, lateral support means for a bale of pulp carried on the elevator, a pulp sheet separator, carrier means supporting the pulp sheet separator for movement transversely across and above the elevator in the direction of the said lateral support means and through a bale on the elevator to remove sheets from the bale, said elevator having a platform for the bale and a plurality of supports in spaced relation forming the platform, finger means between some of said supports and normally positioned below the platform level, and means for urging the finger means upwardly above the platform level to urge a pulp bale on the platform upwardly.

3. In apparatus for separating sheets of pulp from a pulp bale as claimed in claim 2 in which the supports are rollers.

4. ln apparatus for separating sheets of pulp from a pulp bale as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means for urging the finger means upwardly include lever means operatively associated with the finger means for moving the finger means upwardly above the platform level, said lever means projecting laterally of the elevator, and a contactor abutment fixedly positioned in the path of the projecting lever means arranged to engage the lever means at the upper end of the elevator movement to raise the finger means upwardly and lift the lowermost sheets of a bale on the elevator platform for movement of the pulp sheet separator thereunder.

5. The method of separating a plurality of pulp sheets from a bale of pulp sheets comprising the steps of moving a bale of the pulp continuously upwardly, penetrat ing the bale with a relatively wide pulp separator by urging the separator substantially horizontally into the bale, and then when the separator is within the bale jogging the separator in a vertical direction to break the upper pulp sheets loose from the bale, and then removing the loosened sheets from the bale, the said method including that the lowermost sheets of the bale, following removal of the upper sheets, are raised on an edge facing the pulp separator to permit the pulp separator to pass beneath the lowermost sheets of the bale trimaran STATES PATENT OFFICE CER'IE'FECATE 0F CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3, 870,167 DATED March 11, 1975 rr-.-vtrrrr.. r: s= Edward E. Werner and Wayne S. Cheng it is riertrfred that error appears in the above--identified patent and that said Letters Patent hereby corrected as shown below Inventor Wayne S. Cheng was omitted as one of inventors of patent. First page, after Inventors, should read:

Inventors: Edward E. Werner, Oshkosh, Wis.

Wayne S. Cheng, Neenah, Wis.

Signed and Scaled this A tresr:

RUTH C. MASON Arre'sling Officer C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Parents and Trademarks 

1. In apparatus for separating sheets of pulp from a pulp bale, an elevator for raising a bale of pulp, lateral support means for a bale of pulp carried on the elevator, a pulp sheet separator, carrier means supporting the pulp sheet separator for movement transversely across and above the elevator in the direction of the said lateral support means and through a bale on the elevator to remove sheets from the bale, a mounting for the said carrier means, other means pivotally supporting the pulp sheet separator with respect to said carrier means so that said pulp sheet separator may be jogged in a direction transverse to the plane of the pulp sheet separator to break pulp sheets loose from a pulp bale into which the separator has penetrated, and fourth means for jogging the pulp sheet separator when the pulp sheet separator is over the elevator, said fourth means being upwardly inclined cam means on the mounting positioned to be traversed by the carrier means in said movement of the carrier means.
 1. In apparatus for separating sheets of pulp from a pulp bale, an elevator for raising a bale of pulp, lateral support means for a bale of pulp carried on the elevator, a pulp sheet separator, carrier means supporting the pulp sheet separator for movement transversely across and above the elevator in the direction of the said lateral support means and through a bale on the elevator to remove sheets from the bale, a mounting for the said carrier means, other means pivotally supporting the pulp sheet separator with respect to said carrier means so that said pulp sheet separator may be jogged in a direction transverse to the plane of the pulp sheet separator to break pulp sheets loose from a pulp bale into which the separator has penetrated, and fourth means for jogging the pulp sheet separator when the pulp sheet separator is over the elevator, said fourth means being upwardly inclined cam means on the mounting positioned to be traversed by the carrier means in said movement of the carrier means.
 2. In apparatus for separating sheets of pulp from a pulp bale, an elevator for raising a bale of pulp, lateral support means for a bale of pulp carried on the elevator, a pulp sheet separator, carrier means supporting the pulp sheet separator for movement transversely across and above the elevator in the direction of the said lateral support means and through a bale on the elevator to remove sheets from the bale, said elevator having a platform for the bale and a plurality of supports in spaced relation forming the platform, finger means between some of said supports and normally positioned below the platform level, and means for urging the finger means upwardly above the platform level to urge a pulp bale on the platform upwardly.
 3. In apparatus for separating sheets of pulp from a pulp bale as claimed in claim 2 in which the supports are rollers.
 4. In apparatus for separating sheets of pulp from a pulp bale as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means for urging the finger means upwardly include lever means operatively associated with the finger means for moving the finger means upwardly above the platform level, said lever means projecting laterally of the elevator, and a contactor abutment fixedly positioned in the path of the projecting lever means arranged to engage the lever means at the upper end of the elevator movement to raise the finger means upwardly and lift the lowermost sheets of a bale on the elevator platform for movement of the pulp sheet separator thereunder.
 5. The method of separating a plurality of pulp sheets from a bale of pulp sheets comprising the steps of moving a bale of the pulp continuously upwardly, penetrating the bale with a relatively wide pulp separator by urging the separator substantially horizontally into the bale, and then when the separator is within the bale jogging the separator in a vertical direction to break the upper pulp sheets loose from the bale, and then removing the loosened sheets from the bale, the said method including that the lowermost sheets of the bale, following removal of the upper sheets, are raised on an edge facing the pulp separator to permit the pulp separator to pass beneath the lowermost sheets of the bale 